OK, maybe they aren't back.

The minor league umpires have turned down the tentative agreement that was reached last week.

MiLB.com has the story. A quick excerpt.

There was initial optimism that the deal would pass and that the umpires would return to work on or before May 8. But according to a member of the AMLU (Association of Minor League Umpires -- Union) who did not wish to be identified, the vote wasn't even a close one, with close to 80 percent of the union's membership voting to turn it down.

According to the umpire, the offer was almost precisely the one the PBUC (Professisonal Baseball Umpires Corporation --Management) made back in March. The dissatisfaction with that initial offer is a main reason why the AMLU went on strike to start the season. That offer provided for an increase in the umpires' per diem -- one of the main issues along with salary -- starting with a one-dollar improvement this year to $26 per day, up to $40 at the conclusion of the six-year contract.

Why turn it down? Didn't their negotiating committee send it back with a recommendation to pass it?

It may have to do with the union's bylaws, whereby they are required to bring any offer on the table -- offically recommended by the committee -- back to its membership for a full vote.p> "That's something I asked 100 times," the umpire said. "We haven't had anything to vote on for a time. They wanted to let us vote on something."

They wanted to let us vote on something? They wanted to let us vote on something? Apparently, they wanted to let them vote on something.

According to the article, there are no new negotiations scheduled.